The Rotary Club of Orangeburg, under the leadership of their President Dr. Vance Brabham, decided in 1936 to organize and sponsor a local Boy Scout troop. Very few troops, if any, existed in the Orangeburg area at that time and the Rotarians felt that the local young men would benefit from this much respected organization.

A troop committee was established consisting of Chairman Lenaire F. Wolfe, S.E. Duncan, Frank Laird, W.C. Wannamaker, and Hugo S. Sims. The committee members then chose the first scoutmaster, Fred Fowler, a teacher at Mellichamp School on Sellers Avenue. A roster of interested and eager young boys between the ages of 11 and 17 was compiled and Boy Scout Troop 45 was chartered on June 30, 1937.

The earliest roster found of Troop 45 is for 1939-1940 and included the following members: William Bryant, J.P. Dubose Jr., Al Fisher, Clarence Gramling, Richard Hatchell, Hadden Holliday, Lewis M.Hough Jr., Marion F. Inabinet Jr., Thomas B. Jackson Jr., Robert S. McCants Jr., Bobby Starr, William Taylor, Robert Weber.

In 1940, Dr. Lewis M. Hough, a local dentist and later a Silver Beaver, took over as scoutmaster. The Silver Beaver is the highest award that an adult leader can receive in scouting. His son, Lewis M. Hough Jr., was already a member of the troop and earned a rank of Eagle in that same year. During the early years, many troop meetings were held at Hough's office, which was located upstairs on Russell Street.

In these early years, Troop 45 participated in many of the same activities as today's Scouts. Most of their time was spent working on merit badges, camping and service projects. Most of the camping trips took place in local areas, but the troop would travel once a year to Camp Barstow, located at Fort Jackson in Columbia. There, they participated in camp water sports, pioneering skills, nature studies, first aid and marksmanship activities. For several years, Troop 45 excelled and dominated most of the water sports competitions in the Central S.C. Council (now known as Indian Waters Council).

Towards the mid-1940s meetings were held at the Armory on Broughton Street and then at the old American Legion Hut on Riverside Drive. Due to the passing of Dr. Hough, an interim scoutmaster, George M. Rogers Jr., was appointed in 1946. Rogers was scoutmaster for one year.

After searching during this interim period, the Rotary Club found the next scoutmaster for Troop 45. His name was Lawrence T. Garick, a World War II veteran. At the time, Garick was employed by R.L. Culler Refrigeration, a local business owned by his father-in-law. Garick accepted the position on the condition that a suitable hut would be provided as headquarters for the troop's activities. The Rotary Club appropriated approximately $1,000, which provided funding for the construction of a small scout hut located on Riverside Drive near its intersection with Perryclear Street. At this new location the troop met every Tuesday night during the school year.

As Garick's devotion to the troop grew, so did its membership. Before long the troop was beginning to outgrow its small wooden headquarters. Garick then approached the Rotary Club to see if a larger structure could be provided. His request was granted and in 1961 Troop 45 moved into a brand new, larger brick veneer building on Marshall Street.

Most of the funding for the new building came from fund-raising efforts, such as pancake suppers hosted by the Rotary Club. Materials and services were donated by parents of Scouts and the troop members themselves. The hut's cost was approximately $10,000. At the time of its construction, it was considered one of the largest and most modern scout huts in the Southeast. Troop 45 continues to use this facility as their headquarters today.

During the 1950s, '60s and '70s, Troop 45 and its members participated in a long list of activities and events. Some of the most memorable activities included attending University of South Carolina football games, building the 25-foot tower, camping once a month, camporees, summer camp at Camp Barstow (located in Gaston, 1942-1997), Eagle projects and ceremonies, attending Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, and national jamborees, which were held every four years. Troop 45's members still participate in almost all of these events today.

Garick remained Scoutmaster until 1974, serving the organization and its members for more than 27 years. He received the Silver Beaver Award in 1959. His two sons, Lawrence Jr. and Richard, achieved the rank of Eagle in 1961. During his tenure, Troop 45 enjoyed much success, receiving countless group and individual awards while remaining very active within its community. Boasting its largest enrollment in 1963-1964 with 73 members, the troop thrived due to Garick's devotion and the help of many dedicated assistants, including Rut L. Osborne Jr., Bill Tulluck (Silver Beaver), William A. Conklin, Harry C. Wannamaker III, George R. Barnes, Lawrence T. Garick Jr., Jack Adden and Bobby Osborne.

Upon Garick's retirement, the Rotary Club found another dedicated and tireless leader in Carl B. Cease Jr., another World War II veteran. Cease was a member of the 1939 Eagle Scout Class and later a Silver Beaver recipient. He was employed by U.S. Plywood in Orangeburg, from which he eventually retired. Cease led groups of youth to Philmont and organized multiple trips to the National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. His expertise in camping, camping gear and equipment prepared the young men very well for the many explorations in which they participated. Under Cease, the troop continued to hold strong at around 40 members. Repeating a family pattern established by his predecessors, Cease's son, Dick, also achieved the Eagle Badge.

Contributing to the tremendous achievements of the troop under the leadership of Cease, were several excellent assistants, Jake Shuler, Lawrence T. Garick Jr., Roy Gerstung, Sydney Phillips, John Stephens and Wally Bigler. Cease was a very efficient and organized leader, who, like Garick, gained the utmost respect of the troop he led for 20 years until 1994.

While the Orangeburg Rotary Club's troop committee looked for the next scoutmaster, long-time assistant and Silver Beaver, Jake Shuler, served as interim leader. However, not much time passed before the committee and the other assistants decided on the next scoutmaster. His name was James M. "McKi" Green IV.

Green was an assistant scoutmaster and had a son in the troop, James V., who would later become an Eagle Scout. Green was a former member of Troop 45 in the 1960s under Garick, so he understood the importance of sound leadership and was very passionate about scouting, especially Troop 45.

Green, a regional sales manager for an industrial fiberglass company, was an avid outdoorsman and very conservation-minded. Twice a year, he would lead the troop in an Edisto River clean-up, covering the stretch between the Country Club of Orangeburg and Glover Street Landing. Along with the monthly camping trips and weekly meetings, Green led the troop to summer camp at Camp Barstow (relocated to Lake Murray in 1998) and Camp Daniel Boone in North Carolina. He was also a leader at the 2003 National Jamboree. As the scoutmasters before him, Green had the support of excellent assistants: Lawrence T. Garick Jr., Lawrence T. Garick III, Chuck Raines, Dan Gutting, Mike Horger, Andy Gunn, Brad Hutto, Dr. Tracy Macpherson, Bill Huffstetler, Dr. David Hutto, Dr. John Samies and Wayne McCormick.

Upon Green's retirement, Bill Huffstetler, a proven assistant scoutmaster, immediately expressed interest in becoming the troop's next leader. So in 2004, Huffstetler assumed the position as he was named Troop 45's eighth and present scoutmaster. His son, Jason, was a Scout in the troop and, like the other sons before him, would eventually be awarded the Eagle Badge.

Huffstetler's love of camping and the outdoors, and his willingness to teach Scouts the ideals and lessons in scouting, makes him an excellent leader for the troop. Presently, there are 37 scouts in Troop 45. Like those who preceded them, these Scouts have also received many awards both as individuals and as a troop.

The Order of the Arrow, Scouting's national honor fraternity, has always had a very strong representation from Troop 45. The list of assistants in this troop presently is unparalleled as far as quality, dedication, commitment and dedication. They are Greg Smoak, Wayne McCormick, Lawrence T. Garick Jr., Lawrence T. Garick III, Brad Hutto, Tracy Macpherson, Joey Williamson, Andy Gunn, Dr. David Hutto, Mark Whitman, William McCormick and Dr. John Samies.

Not mentioned are all the other fathers who also have lended a hand. Special recognition should certainly be noted for one of these assistants: Lawrence T. Garick Jr., son of Lawrence Sr. and a Silver Beaver recipient, has been affiliated with Troop 45 since the days that he would follow his father around as a little boy about 55 years ago. His true and devout dedication represents the strong foundation that Troop 45 has possessed since its origin 70 years ago.

Troop 45 has been very fortunate to have such a fine sponsor as The Rotary Club of Orangeburg. The fact that this troop has only had six true scoutmasters in 70 years is remarkable. The city of Orangeburg and its surrounding area should be extremely proud of Boy Scout Troop 45.

By instilling the beliefs of the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and the due to God and our country, Troop 45 has yielded some of the finest and well-disciplined young men our community has ever seen. Most of these men have had a tremendous and positive impact on our community and beyond. To date, Troop 45 has produced 117 Eagle Scouts.

Troop 45 has always been one of the best troops in the Indian Waters Council and could certainly compete with any in the country. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the chartering of Troop 45. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, Troop 45 will have a court of honor and birthday celebration in which old photos and memories will be shared. The troop invites all former scouts and leaders from Troop 45 to attend.

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